The Avrum Rosensweig Show

In this deeply moving second interview with Caleb Schraeder from Kansas City, he opens up about his extraordinary path through faith, healing, and personal growth. As a nurse burdened by profound trauma, Caleb found his life unraveling when Christianity no longer provided solace, leading him to what he describes as "rock bottom." With raw honesty, he shares his decision to step away from Christianity and embrace Judaism, guided by ...

Sam Kelly, a history graduate from Stanford University, is on the autism spectrum and his interest and passion for history has become an almost physical compulsion. He loves to dig up forgotten and weird stories from the past and spends hours uncovering every last stubborn detail. “I’ve been obsessed with history since I was a little kid. In ele-mentary school, I’d beg my history teacher to let me take home the teacher’s edition of...

Sam Kelly, a history graduate from Stanford University, is on the autism spectrum and his interest and passion for history has become an almost physical compulsion. He loves to dig up forgotten and weird stories from the past and spends hours uncovering every last stubborn detail. “I’ve been obsessed with history since I was a little kid. In ele-mentary school, I’d beg my history teacher to let me take home the teacher’s edition of...

In this episode of Parsha & Prose, Rabbi Shlomo Gemara and I explore the Torah portion of Chukat, focusing on the red heifer, a ch'ok—a divine statute beyond human understanding. We delve into the meaning behind this enigmatic commandment and why God gives us laws that defy comprehension. Additionally, we discuss the emotional weight of losing a sibling, as seen in the passing of Miriam and Aaron, Moses' sister and brother. Cou...

In this episode of Parsha & Prose, Rabbi Shlomo Gemara and I explore the Torah portion of Chukat, focusing on the red heifer, a ch'ok—a divine statute beyond human understanding. We delve into the meaning behind this enigmatic commandment and why God gives us laws that defy comprehension. Additionally, we discuss the emotional weight of losing a sibling, as seen in the passing of Miriam and Aaron, Moses' sister and brother. Cou...

In this poignant episode of Parsha & Prose, Rabbi Shlomo Gemara and Avrum reflect on the tragic loss of seven IDF soldiers in Gaza this week. Rabbi Gemara shares a deeply personal connection, drawing from his experiences in the Lebanon War, where he lost friends in a tank attack. He reflects on the weight of their final moments and the enduring impact of such losses. 💠 The conversation also explores the life of an educator aft...

In this poignant episode of Parsha & Prose, Rabbi Shlomo Gemara and Avrum reflect on the tragic loss of seven IDF soldiers in Gaza this week. Rabbi Gemara shares a deeply personal connection, drawing from his experiences in the Lebanon War, where he lost friends in a tank attack. He reflects on the weight of their final moments and the enduring impact of such losses. 💠 The conversation also explores the life of an educator aft...

Welcome to this episode, where I'm honored to sit down with Itzchak Levit, a former officer in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and chairperson of the Givati Brigade Association. He is a man of profound insight and experience. In this compelling conversation, Itzchak opens up about Israel’s complex and ongoing conflict with Iran, offering a rare glimpse into the strategic brilliance of the Mossad and the IAF, and the remarkable cre...

Welcome to this episode, where I'm honored to sit down with Itzchak Levit, a former officer in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and chairperson of the Givati Brigade Association. He is a man of profound insight and experience. In this compelling conversation, Itzchak opens up about Israel’s complex and ongoing conflict with Iran, offering a rare glimpse into the strategic brilliance of the Mossad and the IAF, and the remarkable cre...

In this episode, I’m thrilled to schmooze with Sarah Landenwich, author of the gripping new novel 'The Fire Concerto'. This literary page-turner follows a brilliant female musician lost to history and another woman’s quest to ensure her legacy endures. Packed with tension, surprises, and vivid portrayals of the brutal realities faced by exceptionally talented women in the 19th century, the book is a tribute to forgotten female musi...

In this episode, I’m thrilled to schmooze with Sarah Landenwich, author of the gripping new novel 'The Fire Concerto'. This literary page-turner follows a brilliant female musician lost to history and another woman’s quest to ensure her legacy endures. Packed with tension, surprises, and vivid portrayals of the brutal realities faced by exceptionally talented women in the 19th century, the book is a tribute to forgotten female musi...

Join me on Parsha and Prose for a dynamic conversation with Rabbi Shlomo Gemara, as we explore vital issues facing the Jewish people, Israel, and our community through the lens of Torah and literature. In this episode, we dive into the Torah portion Behalotcha, discussing the Haredi community’s role in the Israel Defense Forces, with Rabbi Gemara emphasizing the unity of all Jews in defending our people during challenging times. We...

Join me on Parsha and Prose for a dynamic conversation with Rabbi Shlomo Gemara, as we explore vital issues facing the Jewish people, Israel, and our community through the lens of Torah and literature. In this episode, we dive into the Torah portion Behalotcha, discussing the Haredi community’s role in the Israel Defense Forces, with Rabbi Gemara emphasizing the unity of all Jews in defending our people during challenging times. We...

Join us for an insightful and wide-ranging conversation with Dave Gordon—veteran writer, editor, communications strategist, and host of the acclaimed Insights and Influence podcast. With over 25 years in media, Dave has published thousands of pieces across politics, travel, business, arts, lifestyle, and beyond. He's interviewed icons like Gene Simmons, Dan Aykroyd, Rick Moranis, Matisyahu, Isiah Thomas, and Kiefer Sutherland, and ...

Watch this episode with Wendy Holden, the author of 'The Teacher of Aushwitz' a stirring, sad, hopeful novel about a 28 year old gay Jewish inmate of Auschwitz who started up a children's barrick in the concentration camp to teach the children how to deal with the barbarism of their environment, and learn studies and creativity. Fredy was able to open the school through courageous negotiations with the SS, including Joseph Mengele....

Watch this episode with Wendy Holden, the author of 'The Teacher of Aushwitz' a stirring, sad, hopeful novel about a 28 year old gay Jewish inmate of Auschwitz who started up a children's barrick in the concentration camp to teach the children how to deal with the barbarism of their environment, and learn studies and creativity. Fredy was able to open the school through courageous negotiations with the SS, including Joseph Mengele....

In this week's Parsha and Prose, we journey through Parshat Naso (Numbers 4:21–7:89) and find rich parallels in Leo Tolstoy’s literary masterpiece, Anna Karenina. What do a Torah portion about vows, purity, and priestly blessings have in common with a 19th-century Russian novel? More than you think. 💬 From the Sotah ritual that examines marital suspicion to the Nazirite vow of sacred discipline, we explore how Torah law and Tolsto...

In this week's Parsha and Prose, we journey through Parshat Naso (Numbers 4:21–7:89) and find rich parallels in Leo Tolstoy’s literary masterpiece, Anna Karenina. What do a Torah portion about vows, purity, and priestly blessings have in common with a 19th-century Russian novel? More than you think. 💬 From the Sotah ritual that examines marital suspicion to the Nazirite vow of sacred discipline, we explore how Torah law and Tolsto...

Professors David Koffman (York University) and Norm Ravvin (Concordia University) share insights into their roles as Jewish educators on contemporary Canadian campuses and discuss the work of the Association for Canadian Jewish Studies (ACJS). They challenge the perception that university campuses are uniformly "woke" or inherently unsafe for Jewish students, offering a nuanced perspective on the experiences of Jewish students tod...